Apparatus for use in lining vessels

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for use in lining ground supported open-mouth metallurgical processing vessels arranged oppositely one another is disclosed. The apparatus includes an elongated support structure arranged between the vessels and upon which is disposed a transportation bed, such as parallel rails. The transportation bed includes selectively movable end sections arranged to be moved between a position outside of the vessels and a position over the mouth of each vessel. A self propelled vehicle having a compartment for storing refractory bricks is provided for travelling on the transportation bed between the vessels. Delivery means are provided in the form of an elevator cage and hoist for lowering refractory brick into a vessel where workers on a portable scaffold may receive the brick and place it in position to form the refractory wall of the vessel.

United States Patent Smith 51 July 25,1972

1541 APPARATUS FOR USE IN LINING VESSELS [72] Inventor: George A. Smith, Beaver, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: Feb. 9, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 113,984

Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant ExaminerFrank E. Werner Attorney-Parmelee, Utzler & Welsh [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for use in lining ground supported open-mouth metallurgical processing vessels arranged oppositely one another is disclosed. The apparatus includes an elongated support structure arranged between the vessels and upon which is disposed a transportation bed, such as parallel rails. The transportation bed includes selectively movable end sections arranged to be moved between a position outside of the vessels and a position over the mouth of each vessel. A self propelled vehicle having a compartment for storing refractory bricks is provided for travelling on the transportation bed between the vessels. Delivery means are provided in the form of an elevator cage and hoist for lowering refractory brick into a vessel where workers on a portable scaffold may receive the brick and place it in position to form the refractory wall of the vessel.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJULZS 1972 SHEET 1 0F 2 INVENTU GEORGE A. SMITH WV'UJ/Qjg,

his A liar/rays PATENTED M \912 3,679.07],

SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR GEORGE 4. SMITH his Attorneys APPARATUS FOR USE IN LINING VESSELS This invention relates to apparatus for use in lining ground supported metallurgical processing vessels arranged oppositely one another, as for example open-mouthed basic oxygen furnaces.

Basic oxygen steelmaking furnaces include open-mouthed vessels having a refractory brick lining. The lining must be replaced regularly, usually after only a few days service. The usual manner in relining the vessels is for workers to install the bricks with the vessel in the upright position. The workers stand on platforms forming part of a tower which includes a collapsible scaffold platform. The tower also is provided with an elevator shaft for transporting the refractory bricks to the platform level. The tower is usually a very tall structure, extending vertically from the vessel through the furnace hood to an upper floor of the shop building where the brick is stored. Such a system requires a tall building for support of a special overhead crane to handle the tower and for provision of the high level floor for the storage of the brick. A freight elevator is also necessary for transporting the brick from ground level to the storage floor.

Since the existing building structures for basic oxygen furnace shops are high, having been designed for accommodating flux storage bins at a high level, the use of the tall towers and upper level brick storage facilities is quite acceptable. However, in new basic oxygen shop designs equipment and building structure costs may be reduced by providing for a low building structure where the flux bins and other equipment usually installed at the higher levels may be installed at ground level. Such a low level building concept of basic oxygen refining may be applied to existing open hearth buildings without resorting to extensive structural modifications.

Applying the low level building concept to basic oxygen refining shops, however, would necessitate vessel relining apparatus which would not require the heretofore used tall elevator tower. This invention provides for such an apparatus which additionally eliminates the need for the high refractory brick storage area and a freight elevator for transporting brick to the high level. More particularly, the present invention provides apparatus for use in lining ground supported, openmouth metallurgical processing vessels arranged oppositely one another, preferably comprising: elongated support structure arranged between the vessels with the ends thereof disposed adjacent the inner portions of the mouths of the vessels; a transportation bed, such as spaced rails, arranged on the support structure and including selectively movable end sections arranged to be moved between a position outside the vessel to a position over the mouths of the vessels; a self propelled vehicle adapted for travelling on the transportation bed, including the end sections thereof, and having a storage compartment for receiving and storing refractory brick; and delivery means for lowering the refractory bricks into a vessel whereby workers on a scaffold platform supported in the vessel may take the bricks and form the refractory lining. Preferably the end sections of the transportation bed are selectively retractable and extendible with respect to the remainder of the bed and are movable between a retracted position within the ends of the stationary portion of the bed and an extended position over the mouths of the vessels. The end sections are preferably rail sections, and the vehicle is preferably a rail car having inner and outer sets of wheels engageable with the end section rails and the stationary section rails, respectively. Also, the vehicle preferably includes a storage compartment accessible from the underneath portion thereof with the delivery means being integral with the vehicle assembly and including a hoist whereby an elevator cage for supporting refractory brick or a portable scaffold may be grasped by the hoist and selectively lifted to and from the storage compartment and placed in or taken out of a vessel. With the apparatus of this invention the refractory brick may be stored below the transportation bed which could include an opening over the brick storage area, whereby a elevator cage for the brick may be selectively lowered and lifted to and from the storage area. By making the rail vehicle self propelled with its own hoist, the special overhead crane needed for transporting the heretofore tall elevator tower to and from the vessels could also be eliminated in the low building refining shop.

Other details and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have shown a present preferred embodiment of the present invention in which:

FIG. I is a front elevation view showing two upright ground supported open mouthed tiltable metallurgical processing vessels such as would be used in basic oxygen refining of steel and apparatus for use in lining those vessels embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus and vessels of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line Illlll of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line IVIV of FIG. 2; and FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a portable collapsible scaffold for use within a vessel during lining operations.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. I and 2 a pair of oppositely arranged identical generally cylindrical or pear shaped metallurgical processing furnaces or vessels 10 such as would be used in the basic oxygen refining of steel. Each vessel 10 is illustrated as being supported for tilting about a transverse axis thereof by a trunnion ring 12 to which is fixed diametrically opposed trunnions 14. Both trunnions 14 are arranged in ground supported bearings 16 mounted on concrete pedestals l7 and 19 with one trunnion being coupled with a drive motor 18 and the other trunnion serving as an idler trunnion. In FIG. I, with reference to the left side vessel 10, the right or inside trunnion I4 is the drive trunnion with the other trunnion, left or outside trunnion, being the idler trunnion. The same relationship (i.e. outside trunnion-idler and inside trunnion-drive) holds for the vessel 10 on the right in FIG. 1. The vessels 10 are supported so that their respective mouth portions lie in a common horizontal plane. Also, the usual exhaust hood 20, shown partially in FIG. 1, is provided and is removable from the vessels or partially dismantable so that lining of the vessels may be carried out without interference by the hood. The hood 20 would be in place over the mouth of the vessel being used to refine steel. The reason for the two vessels is that while one vessel is in service refining steel, the other vessel could be in the process of being relined.

The apparatus for use in lining the vessels I0 is generally designated by the numeral 30 and is shown arranged between the vessels. The lining apparatus 30 includes a support structure 32 formed of interconnected horizontally and vertically arranged channel members 34 and 36, respectively. The support structure is fixed to the inside pedestals l9 and is thus suspended above ground level 37. The space between the upper and lower horizontal channels 34 serves as a storage area for equipment such as a portable scaffold, with a floor surface 38 provided between the lower horizontal channels for supporting the equipment.

Rails 40 are anchored to the upper horizontal channels 34 and serve as a transportation bed for rail car 42. Arranged between rails 40 and at the opposite end sections thereof, are retractable and extendible end sections 44. Each end section 44 includes a support frame comprising a pair of channel members 46, shown clearly in FIG. 3, slidably coupled to the upper horizontal channels 34 by T-bars 48 fixed to channels 46 with the heads of the T-bars being mated with complementary shaped brackets 50. A pair of rails 52 is fixed to the upper surface of the channels 46, while gear racks 54 are fixed to the lower surface of the channels. The racks 54 operatively engage pinion gears 56 which are operatively connected to drive motors 58 mounted to the upper horizontal channels 34. The elements comprising the end sections 44 are so sized, shaped, and arranged, that the upper surfaces of rails 52 are coplanar with the upper surfaces of rails 40 and the entire assembly is disposed within the ends of rails 40 when the end sections 44 are fully retracted and is disposed over the entire mouth of a vessel 10, as shown in FIG. I, when end sections are fully extended. Flat bar sections 47 are secured to the lower surfaces of channels 46 and are sized to engage the top surface of the vessel 10 when the end sections 44 are extended whereby the vessel will provide support for the cantilevered end section. Additional or even sole support of the end sections 44 may be provided by removable legs extending from the channels 46 to the trunnion ring 12 of the vessel assembly.

The rail car 42 includes an open top and bottom main body 60 defining an interior storage compartment 62 accessible from the underneath portion of the body. Outside wheels 64 are rotatably fixed to the lower portion of body 60 and are sized and spaced to engage the outer rails 40. Inside wheels 66, shown clearly in FIG. 4, are rotatably fixed to the body 60 and are sized and spaced to engage the rails 52 of the end sections 44. The wheels 64 and 66 are operatively coupled to a drive motor 70 which is supplied electric power through a trailing cable 72 connected to a source of power, not shown. The rail car 42 is thus self-propelled being controlled by an operator who travels with the car.

The rail car 42 is also provided with drum type hoists 74 driven by electric motors 75 supplied by electric power through trailing cable 72. Hoists 74 are used for lifting and lowering loads to and from the storage compartment 62. Refractory bricks 76 stored at ground level 37 are lifted into storage compartment 62 by loading the bricks 76 onto an elevator cage 80 and lifting the cage through a permanent elevator shaft 82 extending downwardly from the upper plane of rails 40. The hoists 74 may also be used to lift into storage compartment 62 the sections of a portable collapsible scaffold assembly 84 stored on the floor 38 between the upper and lower horizontal channels 34. The rail car 42 would then transport the sections of the scaffold assembly 84 to a vessel to be lined and lower the sections into the vessel.

The scafiold assembly 84 is shown clearly in FIGS. 1 and and is of any well known sectional shaft type design. The scaffold assembly 84 is provided with a pair of elevator cage sections 86:: and 86b to which may be attached a work platform section 87 having four grating platform sections 88 secured to the hinged brackets 90 shown pinned to a box-shaped support structure 99. Corner plates 92, one shown in FIG. 5, are bolted between adjacent platform sections 88 to provide a continuous platform area. The lower shaft section 860 is lowered into the vessel and when that section is positioned in the vessel the work platform section 87 is installed around the shaft section and locked in place in a suitable fashion as by bolting the support structure 99 to the framework of the section 86a. The work platform section 87 is sized and shaped to slide up and down with respect to the cage sections 86a and 86b. Both cage sections 86a and 86b are also provided with doors 101 at spaced locations through which the interior of the cage sections would be reached from the work platform section 87.

The lower cage section 86a is supported on the bottom of the vessel by means of adjustable screw jacks 100. The screw jacks 100 are supported on planking resting on refractory bricks which would have been installed before the emplacement of the scaffold assembly 84 within the vessel. After the lower cage section 86a is positioned, the upper cage section 86b is lowered by hoists 74 into the vessel. The cage sections 860 and 861) are provided with tubular sleeves 89 at the four corners thereof, which sleeves are sized so that the cage sections may be mated with each other. The sleeves 89 are provided with registering openings through which pins may be inserted for securing together the cage sections 86a and 86b. The cage sections are provided with oppositely disposed longitudinally extending guide rails 102 which are sized to receive rails 104 fixed to the sizes of elevator cage 80.

After old burned lining is removed from a vessel and the vessel is ready for relining, it is placed in its upright position as shown in FIG. 1 and the hood is removed. The end section 44 adjacent the vessel to be lined is then extended over the mouth of the vessel, and in this embodiment rests on the top surface of the vessel. The rail car 42 is positioned over the section of scaffold assembly 84 stored between the channel members 34 and 36 and lower cage section 86a is then hoisted into the storage compartment 62 of the rail car. The rail car 42 is then driven onto the end section 44, positioned centrally of the vessel, and the lower cage section 86a lowered into the vessel where it is fixed in position on screw jacks 100 and the work platform section 87 installed. The upper cage section 86b is similarly installed within the vessel. The assembled scaffold assembly 84 is provided with stabilizing support by inserting bracing members (not shown) between the upper surface of the upper cage section 860 and the inner face of channel members 46. The rail car 42 is then driven to the central elevator shaft 82 where the hoists 74 are lowered to engage the elevator cage having a pallet load of refractory bricks thereon. The cage 80 is lifting into storage compartment 62, the rail car 42 is then driven to the vessel and the cage 80 lowered through elevator shaft and cage sections 86a and b to the work platform area. The rail car 42 is returned to the central elevator shaft 82 for refractory brick until the relining operation is completed, at which time the sections of the scaffold assembly 84 are removed from the vessel and returned to the storage area between the upper and lower horizontal channels 34. The end section 44 is retracted, the hood 20 replaced, and the vessel is then ready for operation.

It should be readily recognized that the apparatus of this invention as just described is simple and compact in construction, and provides an efficient means for transporting refractory bricks to the vessel being relined. Also, the present apparatus eliminates the need for a tall building structure, as has been previously required for basic oxygen steel processing shops. Since brick storage may be at ground level using this invention, the need for a freight elevator to lift the brick to a high storage area is no longer required. In addition, there is no need for a special high level crane to handle the scaffolding and elevator shaft when using the apparatus of this invention.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. Apparatus for use in lining ground supported, openmouth metallurgical processing vessels arranged oppositely one another, comprising:

elongated support structure arranged between the vessels with the ends thereof disposed adjacent the inner portions of the mouths of the vessels;

transportation bed means arranged on said support structure and defining a pathway on which a vehicle may travel, said bed means including selectively movable end sections at the end portions thereof and including means for moving the sections between a position outside the vessels and a position over the mouths of the vessels;

self propelled vehicle means adapted for travelling on said bed means and including a storage compartment for receiving and storing refractory brick; and

delivery means for lowering the refractory bricks from said vehicle means into a vessel, whereby workers on a scaffold platform supported in the vessel may take the bricks and form the refractory lining.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim I wherein the plane of said transportation bed means is horizontally disposed above and in close spaced relationship to the horizontal planes of the mouths of the vessels.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said end sections are retractable and extendible with respect to the remainder of said bed means and are movable between a retracted position within the ends of the bed means and a position over the mouths of the vessels.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim I wherein said delivery means is integral with said vehicle means.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said storage compartment of said vehicle means is accessible from the underneath of the vehicle; said delivery means is integral with 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including a refractory brick storage area arranged below said transportation bed means; and wherein said bed means includes an opening over said storage area whereby an elevator cage may be selectively lowered and lifted by said hoist means to and from the storage area.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transportation bed means includes first tracks for supporting a rail car; said end sections of said bed means includes second tracks arranged within the spacing of the first tracks; and said vehicle means includes a rail car having a first set of wheels engageable with said first tracks and a second set of wheels engageable with said second rails.

8. Apparatus for use in lining ground supported, openmouth metallurgical processing vessels arranged oppositely one another, comprising:

elongated support structure arranged between the vessels with the ends thereof disposed adjacent the mouth portions of the vessels;

generally horizontally disposed rail means arranged on the upper plane of said support structure and extending iongitudinally thereof, said rail means including selectively retractable'and extendible rail sections at each of the end portions thereof and including means for moving the rail sections from a retracted position outside the vessels to an extended position over the mouths of the vessels; and

a rail car assembly transportable on said rail means and said rail sections and including an interior storage compartment accessible from the underneath of the car, said rail car assembly also including refractory brick delivery means comprising hoist means for selectively lifting and lowering equipment, refractory bricks, and the like to and from said storage compartment, whereby said rail car assembly may be transported on said rail means and said rail sections to lower bricks into a vessel to workers on a portable scaffold supported in the vessel after raising a load of bricks from a storage area disposed below said rail means.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 including a refractory brick storage area arranged below said rail means; and wherein said rail means includes an opening over said rail storage area whereby an elevator cage may be selectively lowered and lifted by said hoist means to and from the storage area. 

1. Apparatus for use in lining ground supported, open-mouth metallurgical processing vessels arranged oppositely one another, comprising: elongated support structure arranged between the vessels with the ends thereof disposed adjacent the inner portions of the mouths of the vessels; transportation bed means arranged on said support structure and defining a pathway on which a vehicle may travel, said bed means including selectively movable end sections at the end portions thereof and including means for moving the sections between a position outside the vessels and a position over the mouths of the vessels; self propelled vehicle means adapted for travelling on said bed means and including a storage compartment for receiving and storing refractory brick; and delivery means for lowering the refractory bricks from said vehicle means into a vessel, whereby workers on a scaffold platform supported in the vessel may take the bricks and form the refractory lining.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the plane of said transportation bed means is horizontally disposed above and in close spaced relationship to the horizontal planes of the mouths of the vessels.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said end sections are retractable and extendible with respect to the remainder of said bed means and are movable between a retracted position within the ends of the bed means and a position over the mouths of the vessels.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said delivery means is integral with said vehicle means.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said storage compartment of said vehicle means is accessible from the underneath of the vehicle; said delivery means is integral with said vehicle and includes hoist means for selectively lifting and lowering equipment, refractory brick and the like to and from said storage compartment.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including a refractory brick storage area arranged below said transportation bed means; and wherein said bed means includes an opening over said storage area whereby an elevator cage may be selectively lowered and lifted by said hoist means to and from the storage area.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transportation bed means includes first tracks for supporting a rail car; said end sections of said bed means includes second tracks arranged within the spacing of the first tracks; and said vehicle means includes a rail car having a first set of wheels engageable with said first tracks and a second set of wheels engageable with said second rails.
 8. Apparatus for use in lining ground supported, open-mouth metallurgical processing vessels arranged oppositely one another, comprising: elongated support structure arranged between the vessels with the ends thereof disposed adjacent the mouth portions of the vessels; generally horizontally disposed rail means arranged on the upper plane of said support structuRe and extending longitudinally thereof, said rail means including selectively retractable and extendible rail sections at each of the end portions thereof and including means for moving the rail sections from a retracted position outside the vessels to an extended position over the mouths of the vessels; and a rail car assembly transportable on said rail means and said rail sections and including an interior storage compartment accessible from the underneath of the car, said rail car assembly also including refractory brick delivery means comprising hoist means for selectively lifting and lowering equipment, refractory bricks, and the like to and from said storage compartment, whereby said rail car assembly may be transported on said rail means and said rail sections to lower bricks into a vessel to workers on a portable scaffold supported in the vessel after raising a load of bricks from a storage area disposed below said rail means.
 9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 including a refractory brick storage area arranged below said rail means; and wherein said rail means includes an opening over said rail storage area whereby an elevator cage may be selectively lowered and lifted by said hoist means to and from the storage area. 